There is an urgent need to reduce CO2: is renewable hydrogen the answer to our CO2 problems? Hydrogen is versatile: it can be used for heating, power, and transportation and, therefore, in many industries. The worldwide potential of renewable hydrogen is huge: which country will step up to be the leading green hydrogen economy?
National Hydrogen And Fuel Cell Day
National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day. A clean and sustainable future for everyone!
In the United States, October 8 is National Hydrogen And Full Cell Day (fun fact – this aptly chosen date stands for the atomic weight of hydrogen, which is 1.008). This National Day is still little-known, but not only scientists seem to celebrate Hydrogen Day.
What is hydrogen and fuel cells?
A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical potential energy (energy stored in molecular bonds) into electrical energy. A PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) cell uses hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) as fuel. The products of the reaction in the cell are water, electricity, and heat.
This year, French industrial giant Air Liquide revealed their plans to build a new plant that produces renewable liquid hydrogen in Las Vegas, Nevada, which ´will have a production capacity of 30 tons of liquid hydrogen a day. ‘Air Liquide is committed to producing hydrogen to meet the renewable requirements of the mobility market in California’.
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The announcement adds to the sense of a trend in the emerging sector. "Green hydrogen seems like it’s at some sort of possible inflection," said Ben Gallagher, an expert on carbon and emerging technology at Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables. "There’s definitely something in the air."
Although hydrogen is still in its infancy, this hydrogen trend could turn into a global phenomenon. Investors and policymakers are starting to get triggered. More and more countries expressed interested in green hydrogen: the potential of the element is seen worldwide. There is an urgent need to reduce CO2 and renewable hydrogen could be the answer – at least according to these nine countries.
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Australia Steps Up It’s Participation In The Hydrogen Market
The green hydrogen is not that big of a hype in Australia - yet. The country is planning to replace fossil fuel export with an alternative: for Japan, perhaps? "Generally, we’d be looking for a country that is an energy importer and is seeking a low-emission fuel,” said Paul Graham, energy flagship chief economist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, to Green Tech Media.
Canada: Green Hydrogen And Fuel Cells
Canada Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
The Great White North not only wants to produce the hydrogen gas but wants to manufacture fuel cells. Canada is well-positioned to benefit from growing international demand for hydrogen and fuel cells. Canada has a hydrogen and fuel cell sector that thrives in export markets and that include global leader Ballard Power Systems.
France: Hydrogen A Rage
In France, hydrogen is al well-known word, as then-Minister Hulot plight to put France in the driver seat of the world green hydrogen market – and invested 100 million euro in technology to do so. Hulot resigned, but the will of France to get in that driver seat has not lessened. It’s first hydrogen-power passenger bus was unveiled in Houdain, for example.
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Germany: Hydrogen Applications
Germany, already a big player in the green hydrogen market, has unveiled a new plan to invest in research labs for a budget of 100 million euros. Managing director at FNB Gas, Inga Posch, said: "Hydrogen is one of the hottest topics in the energy transition in the country at the moment."
What are Hydrogen applications
Hydrogen is used in various in industrial applications; these include metalworking (primarily in metal alloying), flat glass production (hydrogen used as an inerting or protective gas), the electronics industry (used as a protective and carrier gas, in deposition processes, for cleaning, in etching, in reduction
Japan: Most Advanced Hydrogen Market
With manufacturers as Honda and Toyota, Japan takes the lead in hydrogen fuel cell transportation development and has the most advanced green hydrogen market. Also, the government revealed plans to set up 10,000 refuelling stations over the next decade.
Norway: Hydrogen And Hydropower
After the world’s first accident in a hydrogen filling station (in which two people were injured), Norway still holds on to its pioneer position in the hydrogen market. After the accident happened, Nel Hydrogen did everything to prevent the happening from becoming an obstruction for commercialization.
Japan is thinking of importing Norwegian wind and gas by sea in the form of liquid hydrogen. This could also be interesting for Europe, and at the same time offer Norway new prospects for exports.
South Korea: Ambitious Hydrogen Plans
In South Korea, The South Korean government planned to have 850.000 fuel cell vehicles by 2050, but an explosion in a research facility where two people were killed and six were injured, nourished concerns.
U.K.: Wind market And Hydrogen
For the U.K., hydrogen is a way to make the heating sector greener, as well to reduce gas imports – which is a plus for the country, nowadays. The U.K. is blessed with a vast wind market, and the government plans to invest 12 billion pounds in using four gigawatts of offshore wind for renewable hydrogen production.
U.S.: California World-Leading Market
For a country where National Hydrogen Day is celebrated, you would expect more of the green hydrogen development. Luckily, California has a massive interest in hydrogen: it can help the state with its callosal decarbonization targets. Of course, with a little help from its high-profile technology developers in Silicon Valley – California is leading in the hydrogen market.
Before you go!
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